Mile 2 of 8 (kilometers)

Today was the 25th running of the Kensington 8K Race! From all outward appearances, the event is a well organized run catering to the full array of runners from serious athletes hoping to win the race to youngsters in strollers. Fun for the whole family. The route threads its way through the delightful little town of Kensington, Maryland, requiring the closure of a section of Beach Drive, the primary road through Rock Creek Park. It's a major weekend cycling route in the area and though such closures are a minor inconvenience for cyclists, not to mention local drivers, I fully support letting the runners use this wonderful public asset for a few hours each year.

But what struck me this morning as I traversed the Beach Drive section of the route was the fact that the distance markers for the run are "MILE" markers. Come on, pick one. If it's an 8 Kilometer run, mark the route with kilometers. If you measure the route in miles, add another 3/10 mile and call it the Kensington 5 Mile Run, for crying out loud!

Mile marker 2 of the Kensington 8K run

"Mile" markers on the 8K map